MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS ELECTRONICS BOARD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00990R000100030053-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 26, 2014
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: April 1, 1987
• Content Type: STUDY

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Military
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Calrflunication Electronics world is a cc;mplex
rangement of equipment, networks, and above all ,People..
It, receive the benefits of our creativity we must
cicefuily coordinate the electronic aspects of our ever
':easing systems on a cooperative global basis.
This booklet is designed to give the reader a better
illkierstanding of the 142EB and its people as they att,mpt
harmonize our crinplex carmunications elect-ronics
An we move rapidly towards the 21st century and. our
.chnologies push man and his "Signals" def,pr.r inti nkire
must strive always to cannunicate flueu a posit]. -n
national strength and harmony with our allies.
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UNITED STATES
MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS
BOARD
The Military Communications-Electronics Board is an impor-
tant but little known element involved in top-level communica-
tions-electronics management within the Department of De-
fense. This comment is not a reflection on the professionalism
of the military communications community, but is instead a
natural consequence of the fact that only a relatively small num-
ber of those dealing in communications-electronics matters
have either the need or opportunity to become fully acquainted
with the MCEB. Yet its central, unique and wide-ranging role
in top level joint communications-electronics management
means that its actions in some way impact on virtually all mili-
tary communications-electronics activities.
The MCEB, operating under a charter established by the Secre-
tary of Defense is composed of the Director for Command,
Control and Communications Systems, OJCS, who is also
Chairman; senior C-E Officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Directors or Senior Represen-
tatives of the Defense Communications Agency, the National
Communications System, the National Security Agency, and the
Joint Tactical Command, Control and Communications
Agency. The Chairman may request, when appropriate, repre-
sentation by other DoD elements. While all members have pri-
mary duties with their Departments or Agencies, their joint ac-
tions as members of the Board bear the name and carry the
authority of the MCEB.
1
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The MCEB, as a corporate body, is organizationally responsive
to both the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and acts for or provides advice to these authorities in accor-
dance with its chartered responsibilities.
While its title and composition have varied over the years, the
MCEB can trace its origin back to the Joint Communications
Board of World War II. This reflects the continuing require-
ment to provide a forum in which senior DoD Communicators
can discuss and take action in concert on matters of mutual
concern, provide coordinated guidance to DoD elements and
speak with a single voice when dealing with other Departments
of the Government or International Bodies. The MCEB contin-
ues to perform this role within guidelines established by the Sec-
retary of Defense.
BRIEF HISTORY
The United States Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) established the
United States Joint Communications Board (JCB) on 14 July
1942.
The JCB was reconstituted as the Joint Coimmunications?Elec-
tronics Committee (JCES) in 1948.
In 1949 the charter of the JCEC was revised to provide for
membership by the Director of Communications Electronics,
JCS.
2
The Military Communications?Electronics Board was formally
established by DoD Directive in 1958 after the JCEB was dises-
tablished.
Representation from the Defense Communications Agency and
the National Security Agency was added to the Board in 1962
and the Director, Defense Communications Agency assumed
Chairmanship.
Representation from the National Communications system was
added to the MCEB in 1966.
The Joint Tactical Command, Control, Communications
Agency, then called TRI?TAC, joined the Board in 1976.
In 1985 a revised charter was published and the Chairmanship
passed to the Director, Command, Control, Communications
Systems (C3S) JCS.
The Coast Guard was added to the MCEB in 1986.
THE MISSION OF THE MCEB:
The MCEB shall consider those Military Communications?
Electronics matters referred to it by the Secretary of Defense,
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other designated authorities. For
such matters, the MCEB shall:
1. Obtain coordination among DoD Components, be-
tween the Department of Defense, and other Govern-
mental Department and Agencies, and between the
Department of Defense and Representatives of For-
eign Nations.
3
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2. Provide guidance and direction to DoD Components
3. Furnish advice and assistance, as requested.
FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MCEB:
? Provide Information, Guidance and Direction to DoD
components as need.
Approve U.S. C-E positions for Military Representa-
tives to Regional Defense Organizations and Foreign
Governments.
? Function as DoD Point of Contact on C-E matters for
Regional Defense Organizations and Foreign Govern-
ments.
? Arrange for U.S. C-E Representation to Regional De-
fense Organizations Bodies/Committees.
? Publish ACP's and JANAPs.
? Assist in managing the DoD Electronic Compatibility
Program.
? Carry out responsibilities for DoD Electronic Com-
patibility Program.
? Perform a major role in the DoD C-E Equipment
Standarization Program.
? Perform studies in any of the areas under the purview
of the MCEB's Working Panels.
4
THE MCEB - ITS ORGANIZATION
CHAIRMAN:
Director for Command, Control and Communications Systems
(J6), JCS; supported by a permanent Secretariat
THE PRINCIPALS:
Communications-Electronics chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines and Coast Guard; Director Defense Communi-
cations Agency; Director Joint Tactical C3 Agency; and Flag
Rank Representatives of the National Security Agency and the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In the Corporate world, the Chairman would equate to the
"Chief Executive Officer," the Principals are the "Board of
Directors."
They are the:
? Senior Service/Agency Communications-Electronics Per-
sonnel
? Corporate Head/Executive Council
? Decision, Tasking and Problem Solving Authority
? Guidance and Policy Making Body.
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THE COORDINATORS ?
"Executive Vice Presidents"
Representatives of the Principals who are invested with author-
ity to act for Princpals in accordance with guidance unique to
each of the member organizations.
They provide:
? Liaison between concepts and policy of the Principals and
the actual panel functions
? Working guidance
? Resolution of the vast majority of issues
? Vote on behalf of their Principal
? Deliberative body functions.
THE SECRETARIAT ? "THE SUPPORT ACTIVITY"
Performs the administrative functions of the MCEB. Maintains
the records, ensures compliance with regulations and directives,
promulgates decisions, performs distributions, and is the MCEB
Office of Record
6
THE MCEB PANELS ? "THE WORKING STAFF"
Membership on the Panels is determined by the Coordinators.
They perform the staff work necessary to enable the Coordina-
tors to resolve issues.
The Panels are able to utilize any available resource in their
respective Services and Agencies.
There are eleven (11) Panels covering all major areas of com-
munications?electronics:
? Aids to Navigation
? Call Signs
? Communications Publications
? Communications Security
? Data Systems Interoperability
? Electronic Warfare
? Equipment and Standardization
? Frequency
? Methods and Procedures
? Plans and Policy
? Warning and Target Information.
7
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SELECTED AREAS OF MCEB INTEREST AND
RESPONSIBILIES
ALLIED COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATIONS (ACPs)
? ACPs contain communications?electronics related instruc-
tions, procedures and/or information and are prepared in
conjunction with other Allied Nations. They are issued for
the Guidance and use of Allied Forces.
? The major criterion for the content of an ACP is that it
have universal applicability. Material of only local theater,
command, or geographical significance is not included.
? ACPs cover a wide range of C?E and related areas such as
Call Signs Assignment, Electronic Warefare, Frequency
Control, IFF, Message System and Radio Procedures, as
well as other technical and operational C?E techniques
and procedures.
? They are published by the United States based on unani-
mous agreement by the CCEB after being staffed through
NATO prior to publication.
? ACPs are generally adopted by NATO and used world-
wide.
? Nations and Regional Defense Organizations supplement
the APCs as needed.
8
? Changes and recommendations come from many sources
and are staffed in the same manner as the original docu-
ment.
COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY (COMSEC)
? Develops U.S. positions on military characteristics for
COMSEC equipment to ensure interoperability, done in
conjunction with the CCEB and NATO.
? Fosters the exchange of information with Allies developing
COMSEC Hardware.
? Resolves COMSEC hardware and policy/procedures prob-
lems to ensure worldwide secure interoperability with our
Allies.
DATA SYSTEMS INTEROPERABILITY
? Provides guidance to Military Delegates attending interna-
tional meetings.
? Develops and coordinates U.S. military input to plans,
policies, and standards relating to the interoperability of
data systems.
? Reviews and monitors formal agreements to ensure
conformance with established plans, policies, and proce-
dures.
9
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ELECTRONIC WARFARE
? Develops and coordinates the U.S. input for Electronic
Warfare instructions for all services.
FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT
? Develops and promulgates policies and procedures for fre-
quency management by DoD components.
? Processes applications for DoD Frequency Allocations.
? Provides guidance to developers of military C?E equipment
intended for use in CONUS and overseas.
? Develops military positions for frequency management in
Allied and International Fora.
? Coordinates assignments of frequencies to U.S. Military
Forces and coordinates use with other Government Agen-
cies.
Provides guidance in management of the DoD Frequency
Assignment Data Base.
io
? Consists of a military secretary, Assistant Secretary (Deput
and Administration), two Assistant Military Secretraies
(NATO and CCEB) and four Secretaries.
FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT ? INTERNATIONAL
? Develops military input for the development of National
Positions in the International Telecommunications Unit,
Worldwide and Regional administrative Radio Conferences
(ITU WARCs/RARCs).
? Participates with NATO and the CCEB in the development
of military positions and common procedures.
? Coordinates frequency allocations applications.
? Provides, as requested, military participants to ITU
WARCs/RARCs.
IDENTIFICATION FRIEND OR FOE (IFF)
? Develops and coordinates U.S. input to IFF/SIF Opera-
tional Procedures on IFF
? Develops and promulgates U.S. IFF Procedures
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MCEB INTERACTION WITH THE SERVICES/
AGENCIES
ACPs/JANAPs govern day to day communications operations
with publications such as:
? Routing Guides
? Call Signs Directories
Operational Procedures Documents.
Frequency Management affects the areas of:
? Frequency Utilization/allocation in the field
? Allocation/coordination for design and development
of new C-E equipment.
Inputs and recommendations for ACPs come from many
sources:
? Field Units/Users
? Services/Agencies
? Individuals
? NATO/CCEB Nations
? Contractors
? U.S. Foreign Government Agencies.
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THE COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS
BOARD (CCEB):
? The CCEB is a five nation combined military communica-
tions-electronics board whose mission is the coordination
of any military communications-electronics matter which is
referred to it by a Member Nation. This includes the re-
sponsibility for the establishment of the content, format
and release policy of Allied Communications Publications
(ACPs) and General Supplements thereto.
? The Member Nations of the CCEB are Australia, Canada,
New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
? The CCEB was originally formed in July 1942 as the Com-
bined Communications Board (CCB) with the United
Kingdom and the United States as members. Canada be-
came a full member of the board in 1951, Australia in
1969, and New Zealand in 1972. In 1972 the organization
took on its present name of the Combined Communica-
tions-Electronics Board.
? The Chairman of the MCEB is the U.S. Prinicpal member
to the CCEB.
? Each of the five nations provides officers to serve on the
CCEB Washington staff. The MCEB secretariat provides
two U.S. members as well as support to the CCEB.
? Each of the five nations provides officers to serve on the
CCEB Washington staff. The MCEB secretariat provides
two U.S. members as well as support to the CCEB.
13
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COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS
BOARD (CCEB) - MISSION AND FUNCTIONS
The CCEB is responsible for the coordination of military com-
munications-electronics matters which are referred to it by a
participating nation or international organization.
Functions:
? Develops and establishes combined operations C-E
policies, doctrine and operating methods and proce-
dures.
? Coordinates C-E principles and procedures to ensure
interoperability including development of military
characteristics for systems and equipment.
? Facilitates the exchange of C-E and related informa-
tion.
? Develops common national military C-E positions.
? Develops and establishes combined radio frequency
management policy and procedures.
? Establishes the content, format, distribution, and re-
lease policy of Allied Communications Publications
and their General Supplements.
? Formulates the composition, allocation, assignment,
and distribution of address designators.
14
USNCEB ? NATO RELATIONSHIP
The Chairman of the MCEB is the U.S. Military Delegate to the
NATO Communications Information Systems Committee
(NACISC).
The MCEB in supporting the U.S. Delegation:
? Prepares and/or staffs U.S. positions for use by U.S.
Representatives to the NATO Military C?E Fora.
? Provides military input in the formulation of U.S. C?E
positions in NATO.
The MCEB in the performance of its assigned mission in the
area of STANDARD NATO AGREEMENTS (STANAGS):
? Provides .oversight during development of C-E
STANAGS within NATO.
? Processes draft STANAGS for U.S. Ratification.
? Provides STANAGS to Contractors on a Need?To?
Know basis.
? Maintains an Office of Record file on C?E
STANAGS.
15
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USMCEB PRODUCTS
? ACPs, JANAPs, including general and U.S. supple-
ments
? Printing and distribution to U.S. Forces of NATO
supplements
? Development, staff, and promulgation of changes to
ACPs JANAPs and all supplements
? Frequency assignments
? STANAGS
? Coordinated, consistend U.S. positions on C-E issues
USMCEB - FUTURE IMPACT
? Data communications - ISO Standard
? Facsimile
? Electronic mail
? Record versus non-record communications
? International agreements and standardization
USMCEB - THE GOAL
Effective interoperable communications-electronics.
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Addit onal copies of this pamphlet can be obtained by writing to
he Military Secretary , USMCEB, Washington, D.C.
20301-5000.
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